09 Dec 2015

One of the accused in Sebele Mall Filling Station armed robbery case, Joseph Gaie, was given early Christmas when Chief Magistrate Linah Oahile-Mokibe granted him his wish to visit his mother in Serowe.   

Gaie, who was a bit cautious in applying for his bail conditions to be varied so as to allow him to move from the present confinement of 30km radius within Mmopane, politely asked the magistrate that he be allowed to visit his mother in Serowe this coming Christmas Day.

Advancing his reasons, Gaie said, since being granted bail in October, he had never been home to see his mother, whom he said he dearly miss and would like to be granted an opportunity to leave for Serowe on December 23, 2015 and return on January 02, 2016 to accomplish his desire.  

As one of his bail conditions, he is not supposed to leave outside a radius of 30 km from Mmopane, where he currently abodes and he also reports himself at Sir Seretse Khama Airport Police Station (SSKA).
In a move that surprised Gaie, who was left gaping and smiling, magistrate Oahile-Mokibe, who is reportedly going on transfer to Molepolole, granted him the request but ordered that he should immediately report to SSKA Police on January 04, 2016 upon his return from Serowe. 

Gaie, who has brushes with the law, is charged alongside Bampoloki Kgangpetsa and Golwelwang Efedile, who was not present before the court though the session was scheduled for the pronouncement of the ruling on whether they have a case to answer or not. 

The trio is facing a single charge of armed robbery which happened on February 05, 2012 at Northend Filling Station in Sebele Centre Mall where cash, cigarettes and airtime totaling P7 000 were stolen. 
Their case has been dragging on for the past three years and when it resumes next year on February 08, it will be four years old. 

Should they have a case to answer, the court will now move to a defence case, which may further take long to finish depending on the number of defence witnesses which they may wish to call. Ends